Earl ‘DJ Spank Spank’ Smith Of Phuture Has Died

MGMT:::To our Acid House family and Music family at large we are very sorry to say that our friend and partner DJ Spank Spank has passed away.

Spank is (was) a legend. We will for certain continue the work he’s started on his final album project and his innovations in music.

Please for now: Pray for his family and DJ Pierre his brother. Allow them time to grieve.

We will come back with news. Much love.

Phuture, formed by Smith, DJ Pierre and Herb J in Chicago in 1985, released Acid Tracks in 1987, transforming the Roland TB-303 from an also-ran bass accompaniment machine into the heart of a new sound:

I can still remember the first time I heard Acid Tracks. It was really loud. Perfectly loud. My face melted.

I want to hear “Acid Tracks” bumping out of every car I see for the next three days. Think we could actual alter earth’s rotation if we can get every hatchback subwoofer on the planet playing it at the same time.

All of that mayhem and beauty with two machines. One of them monophonic! Amen.